PM Trudeau lauds La Loche community for stepping up 'in a dark and difficult time' after school shootings

An emotional prime minister said he has seen up close an "extraordinarily resilient community" during his visit to the Saskatchewan town that, one week earlier, was the scene of one of the worst school shootings in Canadian history.

LA LOCHE — An emotional Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he has seen up close an “extraordinarily resilient community” during his visit to the northern Saskatchewan town that, one week earlier, was the scene of one of the worst school shootings in Canadian history.

Trudeau travelled to the remote Saskatchewan community of La Loche on Friday, arriving almost exactly seven days to the minute after the start of a shooting rampage that ended with four people dead and seven injured in the town of around 3,000 people. A visibly-weary Trudeau hugged and met with citizens of La Loche, including local leaders, school staff, first responders, survivors of last week’s shooting and some victims’ family members.

Trudeau said he was proud to meet those “who in the past few days have stepped up in a dark and difficult time to pull together.

“It is both heartbreaking and devastating when lives so full of promise are taken from us too soon.”

A 17-year-old boy is accused of shooting and killing Dayne Fontaine, 17, and Drayden Fontaine, 13, in a home in the town before going to La Loche Community School and killing 21-year-old teaching aide Marie Janvier and 35-year-old teacher Adam Wood. The accused cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The tragedy has thrust the remote indigenous community into the national spotlight and highlighted many of the social problems facing the northern town, including high suicide rates and struggles with addictions. A town hall meeting held by Trudeau was attended by about 700 residents. The PM thanked the teachers and police officers whose brave actions “undoubtedly saved many lives.” He said that in a time of darkness, the eye begins to see, and everyone must stand together to address deeper issues highlighted by the shooting.

“I was here very much to listen today,” said Trudeau. “There is much that we heard today that we entirely agree with … We are engaged across the country in looking at infrastructure needs, looking at health needs, looking at how we restore relationships with indigenous people across the country.

“It’s not just here, though obviously this is what’s drawing the attention, the tragedy this community went through … While we grieve and support this community, we also think about communities like it across the country.”

The streets of La Loche on Friday were busier than they’ve been in recent days, with people out in anticipation of Trudeau’s appearance. Traditional drummers played outside the school, where people gathered throughout the day. Several — including Trudeau — laid a wreath at the site of a memorial a few steps from the building.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hugs a woman in La Loche, Sask., Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. A 17-year-old boy allegedly shot two people at a school last Friday after shooting two brothers to death earlier at a home nearby.

“We’re still here. The staff of the LLCS Dene Building is a lucky group of people. We spend our days helping the most precious parts of La Loche — our students — learn and grow. We get to see the strength, resilience, intelligence, and beauty of La Loche’s youth every day. Our dream is to see you achieve your dreams,” staff wrote in the letter.

“And this time away from you — from our classrooms, from our school — is hard. We miss you. The events on Friday were painful and scary and they won’t be forgotten. Some people have expressed concern that some of us have left and the fact is, we are hurt and we are healing but we are still here. Some people need to leave to get help. We don’t judge or condemn anyone who needs to be somewhere else to pick up the pieces, but we are choosing to move forward together, as a family and a community.

“Families are formed by blood and by circumstance. We are the Dene building family. We are supporting each other so we can help support you. We will be back. We will rebuild. We will get better together. So if you find yourself wondering where your teachers and school staff are, the answer is: we are in La Loche. Because truly, where else would we be?”

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